sarries

ANOTHER GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP FINAL turned out to be, not so much a match, as a mis-match.
Gloucester were torn apart with embarrassing ease by the Tigers whose overall physical power and strength was awesome.
In comparison, for the Cherry and Whites, it proved to be very much a case of men against boys.
Last week Saracens were defeated by 50 points at Kingsholm. This time around it was Gloucester’s turn to be on the receiving end as they conceded seven tries as Leicester rattled up 44 points without too much trouble. Indeed it was fortunate that Andy Goode was off-target with many of his kicks, otherwise it would have been an even bigger hiding.
Gloucester have been hard hit with long term serious injuries to key players but that should not hide the fact that they were completely out-muscled, outplayed and out-thought by their rivals without too much trouble.
The blow of the withdrawal of captain Marco Bortolami before the game trough injury and then the loss of stand-in skipper Peter Buxton within fifteen minutes of the kick off, underlined the thought that it was not to be Gloucester’s day.
Leicester’s game plan to build on their strong driving forwards, by setting up their powerful South Sea Island wingers - the outstanding Samoan Alesana Tuilagi, backed up by Fijian Sebu Rabeni who repeatedly broke through the No. 10 channel with comparative ease and counter-attacked in a similar manner.
Gloucester’s first-up tackling was found to be lacking as all too often Leicester went over the gain line - heavyweights versus lightweights.
Gloucester made the early running but it was a false dawn, for despite a Willie Walker penalty, Leicester were as content as ever to give away penalties, slowing the ball down, obstructing and blocking off the ball, quite apart from their customary off-side tactics but if they are allowed to do it they will exploit any advantage to the opposition’s cost.
Their first try was somewhat controversial when scrum half Murphy went over from close range but appeared to lose control of the ball but the score was awarded by the video official .
Leicester were soon very much in the ascendancy as Geordan Murphy and Tuilagi frequently combined to punish ineffective line kicking from Gloucester and it came as no surprise when the mighty Tuilagi brushed aside tentative tacklers to score.
A strong surging run from Rabeni put Martin Corry in for Leicester’s third try took the score to 22-6 at the break and as a serious contest the match was virtually over bar the shouting.
Gloucester did attempt to raise their game in the second half but only had a Walker penalty to show for their efforts before Gloucester’s frail defence was again exposed by Tiger’s rampant attack as Andy Goode crossed over on the blind side to take them 18 points clear.
Surprisingly Gloucester’s line out struggled with the introduction of Mefin Davies, as the Tigers hammered the timid defence again, when that man Tuilagi scored his second try, this time as first receiver, he burst through the limited cover . Very much a case of Lamb to the slaughter.
Surely Gloucester's defence should have been better prepared at Twickenham? Tuilagi also scored two tries in the previous Premiership league game at Kingsholm.
Leicester are renowned for their driving forwards and their more powerful back row proved to be up to the task when Shane Jennings was driven over for another forward's score.
Gloucester did get a solitary try when Ryan Lamb grabbed an interception but the Tigers inevitably had the last word, courtesy of the video official, when Lewis Moody was awarded a try when nobody could see the ball.
So yet another play-off final turned out to be yet another walk-over that denies the league leaders any reward at the end. This may change in due course but irrespective of the club involved, the Premiership League winner is worthy of a trophy.
This occasion did prove that size really does matter and in this department Gloucester were definitely second best. Disappointingly, Gloucester also proved to be second best in all other departments on the day.
Out-thought by a stronger Leicester side that was totally dominant, bigger and better, who deservedly took the honours and the plaudits.
The end of the line for this season and despite topping the Guinness Premiership league, Cherry and Whites must feel aggrieved at the Final outcome but too many other key matches have gone the same way.
P.S.
Lots of the jig-saw are in place but there are still key pieces missing if Gloucester are to reach the top. Even with the new signings announced to date, it is doubtful if a Gloucester side could have truly competed with this Tigers team at this level - they were that much better.
T.H. 13/5/2007

Out-muscled and out-played